Men’s lifetime interpersonal violence exposure and associations with hospitalization at the national level: Results from a New Zealand population-based study

Objective: Investigation of men’s experience of interpersonal violence across the life-course and associations of these experiences with health conditions, assessed by use of national hospital services. Methods and analysis: Information on interpersonal violence exposure (child sexual abuse (CSA), non-partner physical violence (NP-PV) and intimate partner violence (IPV)) was obtained from 1054 ever-partnered men through a population-based survey, then linked with publicly funded hospital discharge information. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to explore associations between men’s interpersonal violence experience and hospitalization for different health conditions. Results: Men who experienced any interpersonal violence were at increased odds of hospitalization for injury (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–2.66)) and for non-disease-specific symptoms or findings (AOR 1.89 (95% CI 1.30–2.75)). Men who experienced CSA had increased hospitalization for nervous system disorders (AOR 7.04 (95% CI 3.12–15.92)) and ear diseases (AOR 4.31 (95% CI 1.59–11.68)). Men who experienced NP-PV had increased hospitalization for injuries (AOR 1.53 (95% CI 1.12–2.08)). Men who experienced 1–2 IPV types had increased hospitalization for genitourinary diseases (AOR 1.75 (95% CI 1.03–2.97)), and those exposed to 3+ IPV types had increased hospitalization for injuries (2.64 (1.71–4.05)). Men exposed to CSA (AOR 1.99 (95% CI 1.14–3.47)) and IPV (1–2 types AOR 1.48 (95% CI 1.03–2.15), 3+ types AOR 1.80 (95% CI 1.06–3.06)) were also at increased odds of hospitalization for non-disease-specific symptoms or findings. Conclusions: Results identify associations between men’s experience of violence and hospitalization for health events. Findings underscore the need to implement preventive measures for child abuse to reduce adverse health outcomes across the life-course.